First Read-Through

Woooo!!! First read-through is done!! I was surprised to find out that I actually have fewer lines as Wendy than I did as Mr. Beaver in LWW!! Isn't that odd? Oh well. Also, my little brother actually has more lines than I do in the play, and this is his FIRST play!! What's up with that?! But I'm happy for him- and I'm happy that I'll be able to help him along with his lines ;P.

The director actually wrote this script on his own, and it's very interesting to read!! He puts very interesting twists to the story; making it more appealing to today's audiences while still being true(ish) to the original story. He slightly changed the personalities of a few of the characters, but nothing too drastic ;)! For instance, Smee is now more of a smart-alec-y, know-it-all, thinks-he-should-be-in-charge-but-too-scared-to-say-anything sort of character as opposed to the innocently oblivious character he originally was. John, the oldest Darling boy (played by my brother!!), is also a sort of know-it-all now-which I suppose he actually was in the original story... he always has the answers, or is always asking questions. My favorite line of his is before the Darlings meet Peter Pan and head to Neverland, Michael & John are playing pirates and Indians- Michael is the Indian and John is the pirate:

MICHAEL: Me Big Chief! Scalpum pirate!
JOHN: Not if I catch you first!
MICHAEL: Wendy, John's not being fair! It's my turn!
WENDY: John, be a good brother and let Michael scalp you. (That's my first line in the whole play; I love it!)
JOHN: But I don't believe that Captain Kidd would really sit still to be scalped! Do you know what's really not fair? Your historically inaccurate portrayal of Native Americans!

Yes, that last sentence is my favorite in the whole play, I think! Seriously, try saying the very last sentence five times fast!! When we got home, I was constantly asking my little brother: Do you know what really not fair?? And he would respond with the last sentence- it's super fun!

Well, I've got to go now, but more updates as events warrant!! Cheerio!

Finding Neverland

Wow, I just watched "Finding Neverland,"...it's probably one of my new favorite movies.

***
"Award winners Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet, Dustin Hoffman and Julie Christie star in this magical tale about one of the world's greatest storytellers and the people who inspired his masterwork, Peter Pan! Well known playwright James M. Barrie finds his career at a crossroads when his latest play flops and doubters question his future. Then by chance he meets a widow and her four adventurous boys. Together they form a friendship that ignites the imagination needed to produce Barrie's greatest work!" ~Synopsis on the back of the DVD case =D
***
Pros:

• One of the reasons I enjoyed this movie was because it combined two of my favorite things: Fantasy, and theatre!!
• Also, I found the scenery to be absolutely stunning throughout the whole film!
• The musical score was beautiful!
• I personally loved the snatches of the actual play of "Peter Pan" that you catch throughout
• Smaller children will enjoy the small, subtle references between the people who influenced the main characters of the "Peter Pan" and, uh, the characters they influenced, if that makes sense.

Cons:

• Um.... It says on the little label in the back, " Some material may not be suitable for children." I can't exactly think what that might specifically entail... oh wait, brilliant; it says, "For mild thematic elements and brief language." I don't recall language being used... but whatever.
• Uh...Not all the acting is superb.

All in all, I must say I found this movie very enjoyable!! Again, I'm studying as much as I can relating to "Peter Pan," for the play that I'm officially going to do!! Auditions are this Wednesday, so keep me in your prayers!! Thanks so much!!

Peter Pan: A Book Review

So I don't know if I just don't have a broad enough imagination or what, but I really didn't care for "Peter Pan" by Sir James Barrie. The plot seemed too...... it seems as if Sir Barrie made it up as he went along. Actually, there was no major discernible plot as far as I could tell. But here's the summary (thanks to Commonsensemedia.org):

"One night Peter Pan flies through the window of the Darling nursery in search of his shadow. There he meets Wendy, Michael, and John, teaches them to fly, and leads them to the home of the Lost Boys in Neverland.
... There, among pirates, Indians, and wild animals, the children have innumerable adventures.
But Captain Hook, the evil leader of the pirates, is determined to wipe out the Lost Boys, and especially the cocky Pan. He concocts a plan to kidnap the boys and Wendy, poison Peter, and make the boys walk the plank while Wendy watches. But Tinkerbell the fairy saves Peter from the poison, setting the stage for a final confrontation aboard the pirate ship."

I can't say I found any of the characters lovable, nor could I identify with any of them. They were all so... I don't know the word- the author describes Peter multiple times as "conceited" or "cocky," which I found to be true, but that wasn't the word I was looking for. The Darling children are described as "selfish," which was true towards the end, but again, not quite the word. I suppose it's that they're either so stereotypical, or that they're so outside the box that you couldn't quite believe that they were real.

The time concept just threw me off completely, I really couldn't discern what was happening when and where. And then the ending did not satisfy me at all. (I shan't say what the ending was, for the sake of *trying to* keeping this spoiler free, but it was VERY annoying and dissatisfying. Well okay- *spoilerish* practically everyone forgot)

I'm trying to think of something positive to say about it... it's very interesting to watch all of these characters, with their idiosyncrasies, interact with one another. The cocky Pan, the motherly Wendy, oblivious Smee, scheming Hook, etc.

After seeing the Disney movie, it's interesting to note that Captain Hook was voted the second scariest villain in children's literature (The White Witch from "The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe" came in first)(And I have to admit, I thought Hook was indeed scarier in the book than the Disney version).

Well, I'm afraid I'm just rambling now, so I'll stop. But wait- before I stop, I wanted to mention that the reason I read "Peter Pan" was because a theatre is putting on a production of it here and I was thinking of taking part in it. I still haven't decided if I will, but if I do, you can all be sure that I will tell you ;-P. Okay, I'm really stopping now. Cheerio!!